Glasgow City Council expected to approve plans for 165 homes at Thornliebank

Drew Sandelands

Major plans to build 165 homes in Thornliebank are set to get the green light.

Glasgow planning chiefs will make a decision on Bellway Homes’ application to build on Burnfield Road when they meet today (Tuesday).

Council officers have recommended the scheme for approval despite opposition from nearby residents and Bailie Kyle Thornton, the area’s representative.

Mr Thornton, who represents the Newlands/Auldburn Ward on Glasgow City Council, has concerns over access to the site due to congestion on Burnfield Road.

“It is unsuitable for the scale of the development,” he said. “I think the committee need to look very carefully at this.

“I’ve requested they carry out a site visit to see how unsuitable the road is.”

He said he isn’t against the development but would prefer the access to come solely from Thornliebank Road.

Plans show three vehicular accesses to the site, which was previously used by tiling, terrazzo and marble contractor Toffolo Jackson. One off Thornliebank Road for people living in the flats and two on Burnfield Road, serving the houses.

The development would include 48 two bed flats, 48 three bed terraced properties, 26 three bed semi-detached houses, seven three bed detached houses and three four bed detached houses. There would also be 216 parking spaces.

“The Council recognise the existing traffic and parking situation along Burnfield Road,” a planning report states. “The application was accompanied by a robust Transport Assessment submitted by Dougall Baillie Associates on behalf of Bellway Homes.”

The assessment outlines two additional traffic flows which “if rounded up to the nearest car represent an increase of two cars per minute along Burnfield Road at peak times,” the report adds.

“This increase is not considered to be excessive and in terms of traffic flows the proposed development is deemed to be acceptable.

Alongside traffic complaints, objections include loss of privacy, an increase in flood risk, noise from pedestrians and a lack of parking.

“All proposed parking spaces for the development are to be located within the site and not along either Burnfield Road or Thornliebank Road,” the report states.

“The Council recognise there is an existing parking issue in the locale and as such ensured the proposed development minimised the need for vehicles to park along Burnfield Road.

“In addition, the applicant is offering to widen Burnfield Road (along the frontage of development) by one metre.

“This widening will enable existing residents parking to be better formalised along the northern side of Burnfield Road, whilst maintaining two way traffic flow with a carriage width of 5.5 metres with a two metre wide footway provided for.”